What I look for when I’m out surveying

What I look for when I’m out surveying

Jonathan Hazell16 April 2013

What I look for when surveying

Where to start?• in the words of the song “let’s start at the very beginning”• it’s worth spending [a lot of] time on this

© Jonathan Hazell Page 2


What’s the brief?• what does the client need to do with the output?• what therefore must be delivered?



How little do I need to do meet the brief?

• why spend longer on the job than you need to?• quantitative data is straight forward• species, location, size

• qualitative data is more subjective• how is tree hazard to be assessed?• how is visual amenity to be assessed?• what about any ecological value?

• some data may require research• fungal fruiting bodies, targets



Where to start?• Root • Crown• Stem



What’s the brief again?• if an attribute is important, then assess and record it, for example• unique reference number• location• species• age• health• condition• safe useful life• preliminary management recommendations• targets



What to consider?• species• characteristic appearance• typical life expectancy• susceptibility to certain conditions• known associations with pests and diseases

• environment• root disturbance• adjacent properties, structures or utilities



What to consider?• logic• does the logic flow through, from initial survey to remediation?

• if not, change something!• if there are no concerns what’s the re-survey period?

• for some material if might be 20 years, for other it might be five• if concerns are raised, are they dealt with appropriately?

• is the re-survey period suitable?• does the proposed re-survey date take account of seasonal changes?• is the remediation prescription sensible?



Post-processing• important to ensure that entries in all data fields are consistent• how will the data be managed – sort by address, prescription• minimise the number of treatments• link with an existing Schedule of Rates?

• post-processing may change some of the timings recommended by the surveyor• in general timings should be only be brought forward, not put back



Without a target a tree can not be a hazard

hazard

targetrisk


the area of most interest is where all three overlap


How to recognise hazard?• how to recognise a tree hazard?• Body Language of Trees• Visual Tree Assessment

• how to assess the significance of a tree hazard?• how to record the findings?



What is the risk?• how to assess risk?• how to record that assessment?



Is there a target?• how to assess the target?• how to record that information?



What about visual amenity?• how to recognise the value of a tree as a public

amenity?• in certain situations this may be the preserve of a fellow

professional, such as a landscape architect

• how to record those findings?



Ecological value?• how to recognise a tree’s ecological value?• this will often be the preserve of an ecologist

• how to record those findings?



Let’s not forget surveyor welfare• these two are fairy

ubiquitous in urban areas!



Overall, what’s most important?• there are certain trump cards:• health and safety• nuisance

• these will generally be enough to override all other considerations



The judgment of Solomon• how to balance all the competing and contrasting

assessments that have been made?• how to explain the complexities to the client?



Don’t ever let anyone tell you surveying is easy!


Documents

What I look for when I’m out surveying